Bed.



J. H. WITTMANN.

BED.

APPLlCATION FILED JAN. l9`. i911. Y

` Patented Sept. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHUT 1.'

JMVENTOR. Joseph H. M//manm n ATTORNEY me Nonms PETERS ca, FHomurHa. wAsmNc mu, n. c,

J. H. WHTMANN.

BED.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I9. 19H.

Patented Sept. 10, 1'98.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Josep/1 .L 4M. ATTORNEY JOSEPH II. WITTMANN, OF

vI F@ KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

BED.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented sept. io, i918.

To all whom t may concern.'

le it known that I, .losnrrr H. VITT- MANN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City, in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improveineuts in Beds; and I do declare the following to be av full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and ligures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to beds, and more particularly to a collapsible bed for camp or touring purposes; the principal object of the invention being to provide a structure of this character which may be packed in a small space, is of light weight, may be easily and quickly set up, and when in use will provide a comfortable and substantial bed.

In accomplishing thesefobjects I have provided improved details of structure, the preferredforms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure I is a perspective view of a bed constructed according to Amy invention illustrating one form of its connection with a fixed anchorage.

Fig. II is a bottom plan view of the same.

Fig. III is an enlarged detail perspective view of one end of the bed and a part of its supporting leg, showing the members spaced to better illustrate their combination.

Fig. IV is a detail perspective view of the tension bar. y

Fig. V is an enlarged side elevation of the connecting portions of the supporting leg and tension bar.

Fig. VI is an enlarged detail view of parts of one of the cross bars and either a supporting leg or tension bar; particularly illustrating their hinged connection.

Fig. VII is an inverted perspective view of a double bed comprising a plurality of supporting members, having connection with the same cross bars for carrying a single apron.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

l designates the bed bottom or apron, which preferably comprises a rectangular strip of heavy canvas, having its endms turned back beneath and stitched to the body part to form the pockets Q for head and foot cross bars 3"-4; the material at the under sides of the po'ckets being cut away at proper points to form apertures through which the cross bars may be exposed for the attachment of the supporting parts thereto.

rI`he supporting parts of the bed are separable from the body or apron and comprise a ground leg 7, preferably slit transversely throughout the greater portion of its length and spread by an insert S to form a truss that stiifens and strengthens the leg to enable it to carry the load and resist the thrust of the tension bar hereinafter described. One end of the leg 'T is adapted for support on the ground or floor, and the opposite end thereof is beveled to lit flush against a face of the head cross bar 3 when the leg is extended at other than a right angle to the cross bar, and provided with a hinge member 10 for coperation with a hinge member 11 on the cross bar; the connection between the mating 'hinge members being preferably made by a cotter pin 12 that is permanently attached to the bed by a flexible cord 13 to obviate loss of the pin and reta-in the same at a convenient position relative to the hinge point.

The cord 13 is preferably connected with the bed by locating its end between the backlapped part of the apron 1 and the body of the apron, when theparts are stitched together, so that it is in reality sewed to the apron and made a permanent part thereof.

While the bed may be supported by the single connection of the leg with the head cross bar I prefer to brace the bar from the supporting leg by arms l5 that are Connected with opposite sides of the leg by hinges 16 and provided at their free ends with hinge members 17 adapted for cooperation with hinge members 18 on the head cross bar and exposed through apertures 5 in the backlapped pocket member of the apron; the connect-ion of the arm hinges with their mating members on the head bar being effected by the Cotter pins 12 that are attached to the bed member as is the pin for the hinge on the body of the leg.

The head cross bar 3 may be provided with suitable means for attaching the same to a fixed body to support the bar above the ground and at the desired bed level, so that the entire bed is carried by contact of one end of the supporting leg with the ground and hanging support of the vhead bar to which the opposite end of the supporting leg is attached; the means here shown for connecting the head bar with the fixed body Ibeing a rope 19 that is wound about a tree or stake, although Ido not wish to be understood as limiting the invention to such detail,

To spread the bed or apron, and support the foot thereof, I utilize a tension bar 21 having a .hinge member 22 at one end adapted for connection with a hinge member 23 at the center of the foot bary a, through a hinge pin 12 that .is connected with the foot bar by a cord, or the like 13, as are the pins at the head of the cot.

The ltension bar 21 is also provided with brace arms 25 having hinge connection with opposite sides of the bar and provided with hinge Vmembers .26 for yconnection With the hinge members 27 on the foot bar by pins also connected with the apron or bed member by .flexible cords. rIfhe Vtension bar is adapted for bearing against ,thev upper edge of the supporting' leg and has a yoke 28 pivotally connected therewith and adapted for inclosing the supporting `leg and for seating in a rack 29 on kthe under edge of the leg to retain the .tension bar in set position; the relative lengths'of the lbed member, the supporting leg andthe tension bar being such that when theebed member is stretched to V its full length the inner end of .the tension bar will engage the supporting leg at .about the longitudinal center of the leg, while having adjustability relative thereto to effect 'the desired ,tension of the apron and permit kof readjustment .to compensate for any slack that might occur in the apron material when the material is first used or due to Weather conditions.

In order to form a unit of the entire structure, so that the parts may be assembled before connection with the fixed support, and Will retain their assembled relation irrespective lof any fixed connection, provide the tfoot bar with xa guy rope 31 which takes over the ground end ofthe supporting leg 7 and may be tightened to draw the tension bar downwardly and stretch the apron; the rope serving merely asa retainer prior to the .complete setting of the bed and not being an essential operative element.

TWith the struct-ure described, the bed is supported from a .single `ground contact, and vvhile Ysuch lsingle vContact is sufficient for support of the .bed it is desirable, in order to obviate .tippingto anchor the bed from opposite sides. This anchorage is preferablyefiected by yguy ,ropes 32 which are connected vby snap hooks 33 with eyelets 347011' the ends of the lfoot cross bar t :and with ground or floor members 35Which, When the bed is used in the open, may comprise ordinary tent stakes,

In using the bed, assuming that the parts are constructed and assembled, as described, practically all of the weight of the bed, and the person or persons thereon, is carried from the single ground contact of the one supporting leg; the fixed connection carrying some ofthe load but having as its principal function to steady the ground leg. Viith theapron on bed bottom stretched between the head and foot cross bars, weight on the apron 0r bed bottom would, of course, tend to sag the canvas, or other material of which the apron is composed, but this tendency is resisted by the tension bar, which, having anchored bearing on the supporting leg between the ground contact and 'the apron connection -with the head cross bar, cannot pivot upwardly en its bearing, as it comprises a radius longer than that formed bythe Ypart of the supporting leg between the anchoring point land the head of the bed; the tendency to .pivot merely serving to `stretch the apron as the tension bar is urged to the pivotal movement by the sagging 'bed Neither can the tension bar move inwardly, 'because Vof the connection of its anchor yoke withthe rack on the supporting leg, so that the bar is held against either Y upward .pivotal Aor sliding movement, and any force induced by a weight on the apron serves to automatically stretch the apron without disturbing its .horizontal position.` It is apparent, therefore, that when the apron is once stretched, variation of the weight placed thereon will not affect .its utility, as lincreased weight merely serves to .increase the tensioning ,thrust and resultant rigidity of .the apron.

TWhile I have referred .specilically lto a one-leg support for the bed, it is apparent that for double or multiple beds the leg may beduplicated according to the width of the bed or apron, although the principle and mode of operation of the ,parts is not altered by the duplication of ithe supporting legs and tension bars. lV-hen more than one supporting leg are used the guy ropes may be dispensed with as the ybed is, under such conditions, both self supporting and self balancing.

Having thus described .my invention what I claim :as new .therein and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is

1. A flexible bed bottom and a support therefonsaid support comprising means for exerting tension upon the bed bottom in a horizontal plane and having a single ground-contacting leg, .andrmeans for connecting said bottom to an independent support :at a point above ground contactingv part of the leg.

2. A flexible bed bottom and a .support therefor, said support comprising means for exerting tension upon the bed bottom in a horizontal plane and having a single groundcontacting leg, means at one end of the bed bottom for connecting said bottom to an independent support at a point above thev ground-contacting part of the leg.

3. A flexible bed bottom and a support therefor, said support comprising means for exerting tension upon the bed bottom in a horizontal plane and having a single groundcontacting leg, means for connecting said bottom to an independent supporth at a point above the ground-contacting part of the leg, and guy ropes connected to the bed bottom and a support to prevent lateral movement of the said bottom.

4f. A flexible 'bed bottom and a support therefor, said support comprising means for exerting tension upon the bed bottom in a horizontal plane and having a single groundcontacting leg, means for connecting said bottom to an independent support, and means for preventing movement of said bed bottom in a horizontal plane with respect to said independent support.

5. A flexible bed bottom and a support therefor, said support comprising toggle levers connected to the respective ends of said flexible bottom, one of said levers extending beyond the other for engagement with the ground and tension members cooperating With one of said levers to spread the toggle so as to exert longitudinal tension on the bed bottom.

G. A liexible bed bottom and a support therefor comprising toggle levers adjustably connected together and having ground engaging means intermediate the bed bottom, tension means for spreading the levers apart, and means for connecting the bed bottom to an independent support.

7. A flexible bed bottom, consisting of a substantially rectangular sheet, a support therefor comprising toggle levers, one of which is a. ground contacting lever and the other adjustab-ly mounted upon the ground contacting lever, the upper ends of the levers being connected to the flexible bed bottom, and exerting tension means upon said bed bottom to maintain it taut When in use and means for connecting the bed bottom to an independent support.

8. In a bed, a bed member, and an under frame comprising separate leg and bar members arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and connected With opposite ends of the bed member, the bar supported on the leg and the leg extended beyond the supporting point of the bar to bear upon a base and carry the bed.

9. In a bed, a bed member, and an under frame comprising separate leg and bar members arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and connected with opposite ends of the bed member, the bar having adjustable support on the leg and the leg extended beyond the supporting point of the bar to bear upon a base and carry the bed.

10. In a bed, a bed member, and an under frame comprising separate leg and bar members arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and connected with opposite ends of the bed member, the bar supported on the leg and the leg extended beyond the supporting point of the bar to bear upon a base and carry the bed, and adjustable means for anchoring the bar to the leg.

11. In a bed, a bed member, and an under frame comprising separate leg and bar members arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and connected With opposite ends of the bed member, a bar supported on the leg and the leg extended beyond the supporting point of the bar to bear upon a base and carrying the bed, and lateral braces from the leg to the bed member.

152.v In a bed, a bed member, and an under frame Comprising separate leg and bar members arranged at an obtuse angle to each other and connected With opposite ends of the bed member, a bar supported on the leg and the leg extended beyond the sup'- porting point of the bar to bear upon a base and carry the bed, and lateral braces from the bar to the bed member.

13. In a bed a bed member comprising flexible apron and-rigid end bars, a supporting leg removably attached to one of the end bars and a tension bar removably att-ached.

to the other end bar and adapted for supporting engagement With said leg.

14. In a bed, a bed member comprising flexible apron and rigid end bars, a supportingleg removably attached to one of the end bars and a tension bar removably attached to the other end bar and adapted for supporting engagement With said leg, and braces hingedly mounted on the leg and reigicvably connected With the first named end 15. In a bed, a bed member comprising flexible apron and rigid end bars, a supporting leg removably attached to one of the end bars and a tension bar removably attached to the other end bar and adapted for supporting engagement With said leg, and braces hingedly mounted on the tension bar and removably connected with the second end bar.

16. In a bed, a bed member comprising flexible apron having an end pocket provided With a recess, an end bar located in said pocket and having a connecting device extended through said recess, a supporting leg having a connecting device at one end for cooperation With a relative devicefon the end bar, and a tension bar connected With the opposite end of the bed member and coper- `gtive with the leg to support the bed meml17. In a bed, abedmemberfcomprising a flexible apron having an end pocket provided with a recess, an end bar llocated Vin said pocket and having .a connecting device extended through said recess, a supporting leghavinga connecting devi-ce at-oneend for cooperation With a relative device on the end bar, a key anchored to the bed member and cooperative with ythe connecting devices on the bed memberand leg to eftecta connection therebetween.

1S. In a bed,a bedmember comprising an apron having an end pocket provided kwith recesses, a rigid bar located lin said pocket and having connecting devices yextended through said recesses, a supporting leg, having lateral braces, connecting-devices on the Copies of this .patent may be obtained 'for 'and a tension bar Yconnected With the opposite end `lof the bed ymember and adaptedV for bearingvon said leg.

19. In a bed, a bed member, a supporting leg connected Wit-hone end ofthebed mem-V ber and bearing rack on its under edge, a tension bar connected with the opposite end of the bed' member and adapted for support on :the-leg, and a yoke on said bar inclosing the .leg and adjustable on the rack, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof affix my signature.

JOSEPH H. VITTMANN.

ve Vcents each, by addressing the Commissioneriofil'atentw Washington, D. C. 

